Hey guys! We only have a few weeks left of summer vacation, and I know we're all bummed about it! Although there is still so much unknown, there are some things we can do as parents to get our kids (and ourselves) prepared for the school year! I wanted to share some tips I do with my kids each year, and they seriously help us feel so much more prepared, comfortable & calm!
BEDTIME SCHEDULE -- Summer is all about late nights & fun! But once it gets closer to school, it will be time to start transitioning back to your school schedule! This means enforcing bedtimes... for everyone! Even parents! It's so important we ALL get the right amount of sleep, in order to be prepared for busy, scheduled, and stressful days!
HOMEWORK STATION -- Set up a homework station in your house! It doesn't need to be elaborate, or Pinterest perfect, but creating a designated homework area for your kids will help them learn routine & focus on their work a lot easier! *Tip: If possible, try to choose a low-traffic area in your house to prevent distraction, as much as possible! Assign a place in your home for backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc. This will prevent losing things & panicking the next morning trying to find them! We are currently working on our homework stations in our home since this year will be a bit different than normal, so I'll be sharing that on my YouTube channel in the coming weeks!
ORGANIZING -- Assign each child a bin filled with snacks & lunch items. This can range from anything you feel comfortable letting your kids into! This can help your kids prepare their own lunches for school, with minimal assistance from you! Another way to prepare is going through your child's clothes. Summer is not easy on them! Before you shop, get an idea of what your child needs now, and what they have plenty of! {I’ll be sharing some good deals on back to school items on my LIKEtoKNOWit page during my Target Tuesday, Walmart Wednesday & Amazon Faves Friday posts too!} Quick Tip :: I adore these bins for snack & lunch organization!! You can also add labels with your child's name to keep things in order! (pictured below)
SUPPLY SHOPPING -- School supply shopping can be so stressful, but it doesn't have to be! A tip I love to share is shopping... ONLINE! Some of my favorite stores for school supplies are Target and Walmart. They have great prices on their school supplies, and best of all: they offer delivery & pick up! You can get everything you need, without the chaos of store aisles!
READ -- In the last few days of summer, our kids can be anxious about the new year! Especially this school year, there is so much unknown! Check out the local library for any "Back to school" books to read with your kids! Talking through the nerves of the first day of school can help them feel so much more comfortable & prepared!
INFORM -- We're getting so much information about schools starting, mask mandates, remote learning, etc! Keeping our kids updated with the changes coming with school this year can help with some of that stress they are carrying! This will open up the conversation to decide what is best for your family.
END OF SUMMER BASH -- Going back to school doesn't have to be all about the stress & dread! Make sure to have some fun, quality FAMILY time before the hustle & bustle of school beings. Bring out the water balloons in the backyard, popsicles & movie night, or board games for a final summer party together! Here's a list of ideas on some fun things to do with your kiddos before Summer ends! And here's a few more ideas to do with them while you're home!
I hope these tips are helpful to you guys. It helps not only my boys, but it helps me when we take these steps to prepare for the school year! Let me know what tips you use to prepare, and tag me over on Instagram, @thiscrazylifevlog!
Love you guys!!
XO, Amanda
Back to School Organizing + Fun Favorites ::
Over on my Youtube Channel, I've shared some organization & decluttering, meal prep & kids lunch ideas. Be sure to check them out if you're in need of some inspiration!
Organization & Decluttering videos:
Thank you for the tips,most of these i already implement. I try and do everything i possibly can to prep,it makes mornings so much easier. I just read a letter from the school board here in Maine and they are proposing that half the kids go to school Mon& Tues, the other half Thurs&Fri with an option to do remote learning for a limited amount of time which would lesson the amount of kids in school. Not feeling too confident about this..lol
Tips were GREAT! Thanks for sharing. My daughter will be home as well and trying to adjust and prepare so these tips came right on time. Thank you
Loved all the tips!! My daughter would have started preschool this year, but I am thinking of homeschooling her. It’s been hard figuring things out!